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A Little Monster

by Shadowmane PX-41

Chapter 17: Gaia and the Wolf

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Twilight and Gloriosa were playing together in the office, using their unique magical powers to lift themselves into the air while Timber and Sunset looked over the paperwork that had been strewn about on the desk. While the babies were giggling through their playtime together, both of the teens were counting up the numbers to try and find exactly how much that the camp owed Filthy Rich.

"I still don't know how you're going to be able to manage the camp, pay off Filthy Rich, then find a way to make the money for the next time he comes around." Sunset twirled a pen in between the fingers on her right hand. "And that's only the start. Gloriosa's been turned into a baby capable of harnessing nature." She pointed towards the two babies and watched Gloriosa lift her fingers, causing vines to burst up through the floorboards and create a small slide for her and Twilight to ride. "Are you sure that you're not biting off more than you can chew here, Timber?"

"You could say that again." He let out a weak chuckle and looked at the total cost of Filthy Rich's debt. "How am I supposed to make that much money and keep Gloriosa happy at the same time?"

"I can't really give an answer to that." Sunset walked past the desk and picked Twilight up, brushing her hair gently. "I only started taking care of Twilight a few weeks ago and she's still got a lot of tricks up her sleeve. Heck, most of the time, I can't even keep up with the crazy stuff she's done."

"Mama." Twilight reached up for Sunset's head and grabbed her chin.

"What is it, sweetie?" Sunset looked down at Twilight, almost scraping her eye on the tip of the light-blue horn.

Twilight felt a rumbling sensation in her belly and patted it with her left hand. She babbled incoherently at Sunset, but her body language was perfectly understandable.

"Oh. You're hungry?" Sunset was quick to identify Twilight's needs. "I'm sure I can handle that." She looked up at Timber, who was still buried within his paperwork. "Uh, Timber? Do you mind if I just take a moment outside? Twilight's a bit peckish."

"How long will you be gone?" Timber pulled himself from the documents and watched as Sunset pushed the door open. "I'm just curious, is all. Gloriosa might use some of her new powers while you're out with Twilight."

"I'll only be a few minutes." Sunset walked out of the door and carried Twilight out with her. "Just try not to let her get too coo-coo crazy, alright? We don't want an even bigger debt than we already have."

"I'll try not to." He let out a small little grin which immediately melted into a frown as Sunset closed the door. He slumped his head down onto the desk and groaned as he rubbed his temples. "What have we gotten ourselves into?"

Gloriosa slid down to the bottom of her newly-formed vine slide, giggling all the while with her arms out to the sides. As she rode it, her hands were generating more vines, which coiled around the room, wrapping whatever they could touch up in moss covered foliage. At the end of her little trip, she wobbled and put her hands on the ground, causing more vines to burst up around her and Timber.

"How does she have this power?" He grimaced as he leaned over the desk and picked Gloriosa up, listening to her giggle as she was raised into the air again.


Sunset Shimmer's friends were all gathered outside with the other Canterlot High students, deep in their discussions about what was to befall the camp. After watching Gloriosa become consumed by magic and shrink down into a baby, their thoughts on the future were very mixed. Some began to sweat as they thought about the end of the world, while others scratched their chins and puzzled how the magic really worked.

"I still think that we should give Timber some lessons on how to raise a child." Rarity shrugged her shoulders as her gaze drifted from one Rainboom to another. "Handling a baby is a very time-consuming task—be it a magical one or not."

"On top of managing the camp, ah'd say that Timber's gotten himself into a whole heap'a work." Applejack turned her eyes towards the hut and watched as Sunset and Twilight came out of it. "Not to mention Filthy Rich's little debt that needs paying off. Ah reckon this might be the last time we ever come to Camp Everfree, girls."

"What?!" Pinkie pushed through Applejack and Rarity. "You can't say that, Applejack! This isn't the way our trip's meant to end! It's supposed to have cake, candy, streamers, and a happy ending! There's no need to be a giver-upper this late into our stay!"

"Pinkie, I appreciate the vote of confidence, but do you know how hard it is to manage a baby?" Fluttershy slowly hobbled forward and tugged on Pinkie's shoulders.

"Believe me, Fluttershy. I do know." Pinkie lowered her brows. "Back home, Pound and Pumpkin have been driving me and the other Cakes crazy! It's almost like they're born ninjas or something now!"

"Oookay?" Flutters lifted her brows and tilted her head at Pinkie's remark. "But you're right, handling kids is no easy feat no matter what they can do. If Timber Spruce can't juggle all of these tasks at once, then the whole camp will have to close down forever."

"I highly doubt that it will close down." Diamond Tiara approached the Rainbooms with Silver Spoon close behind her. "Although I will admit that having Gloriosa become altered into some magical baby like Twilight was a bit of a weird turn of events, I've still got an ace up my sleeve for making the money we need."

"Trust me, girls. You're gonna love this." Silver Spoon opened up her backpack and pulled out a massive map showing Camp Everfree and some other areas around it. "Me and Diamond Tiara were looking at the map that my dad packed for me, and it turns out that there's a small town not too far from here. If we can raise awareness that Camp Everfree's under fire, the people there will surely swoop in and help."

"But how are we possibly gonna be able to let the people know that Camp Everfree's under Filthy Rich's foot in time?" Applejack looked at the map. "I don't know about you girls, but it was still a bit of a ride to get into the woods, let alone to the camp. It'll take a half hour if we're gonna make it to the town."

"Plus there's still the question of what method we'll be using to warn them that Camp Everfree's closing down." Rarity raised her finger as she walked up to the two CHS students. "Are we going to be using flyers? A town crier? A little bit of a fashion parade through the town?"

"Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! We could use candy and cake to lure them to Camp Everfree and tell them about the trouble that we're all in!" Pinkie Pie waved her arms frantically and pulled out some cupcakes drizzled with frosting and sprinkles. "That always gets me to go places. And half the time, I always accept. Anything for them if they bribed me with candy!"

"Uh, Pinkie, let's probably not do that, darling." Rarity patted Pinkie's chest and pulled her arms back down to her hips. "Anyway, it's a good idea, you two, but we seem to be missing the key component to getting to this village in the first place."

"Yeah, we need a car of some sort!" Rainbow Dash threw her arms down in front of her. "And we can't just steal the school bus and leave everyone stuck here. It's wishful thinking, kids, but we need to find a way that's super-fast and super-easy to do, alright?"

"Kinda digging yourselves a grave here, ladies."

The girls all turned around to see Filthy Rich, dressed in his usual blue suit and tie with black shoes. He had a small grin on his face as he crossed his hands behind his back and walked up to the girls with a small hunch.

"Hello, daddy." Diamond Tiara turned and waved at Filthy Rich. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, seeing that the end of the month's fast approaching, I wanted to see just how Gloriosa and Timber were getting along with their little debt." He tousled Diamond Tiara's hair, almost knocking off the earpieces that she wore. "But I'm sure that with you leading the operation now, there shouldn't be any more problems, right?"

"Nope! None!" Her entire forehead turned moist as she waved her hands in front of him and put on a massive fake smile. "Timber and Gloriosa are just going smoothly. Nothing to worry about at all!"

"Hmm..." Filthy Rich's smile began to disappear as he watched Diamond Tiara try to fake that there was a problem. "Y'know, Diamond Tiara, whenever I ever see on of my employees do that to my face, it's a sure-fire guarantee that something's gone wrong. Whether it's a paper jam in the printer, a spilled watercooler which caused some injuries, or even if we get audited, that face and gesture just sells me on the truth." He leaned in close to her face. "What's happened? And don't you lie to me, Diamond Tiara. I'm your father and the C.E.O. of some of Canterlot's biggest and most influential companies."

"Sunset!" Timber burst out of the hut with Gloriosa in his hands. "You've gotta help me!"

"Hey! Timber!" Filthy Rich shouted over to Timber as he run across the camp, causing the ragged teenager to trip and roll forward onto his back, with Gloriosa laughing on his stomach. "What're you playing at, boy?"

"Now's not a good time, Filthy Rich!" Timber scrambled to get back onto his feet as Filthy began to walk up towards him. "Gloriosa's just pooped herself and I don't know how to handle a baby!"

"Have you finally cracked your skull open on one of those nature walks, Timber? There aren't no babies here at Camp Everfree." Filthy raised his brows as he watched Timber get back onto his feet. "And where's Gloriosa? I think I should be speaking to her instead, seeing as how she holds a grudge for me."

"Mr. Rich, with all due respect, we're all kinda busy right—"

"Not now, Applejack. I'll discuss your trades with Granny Smith later." He pushed Applejack onto the ground with the palm of his hand. "Right now, I really need to speak with—" He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Gloriosa in Timber's grasp. "Huh. What do you know? There is a baby at Camp Everfree. Since when did you and Gloriosa decide to adopt someone, Timber?"

"Filthy, it's not what it looks li—"

"For heaven's sake, son. Call me Mr. Rich." He folded his arms in front of him and looked down at Timber and Gloriosa. "Anyway, why would you try and adopt a child when you're up to your eyes in debt? Seems like you've just given up on Camp Everfree as a whole."

"No! I'd never give up on my grandparents' camp!" Timber held Gloriosa tightly in his hands. "In fact, I would've paid you back as soon as possible, but one thing led to another and now—"

"Boy, I haven't climbed my way up the corporate ladder through debt and problems." He shook his head and looked down at Gloriosa. "Y'know, I was once as weak and smarmy as you were, Timber. Kids at school just called me filthy and didn't use the rich part of my name when I was young. But you want to know how I managed to climb my way up?"

"Sir, if you could just let me expla—"

"Hard work, punctuality, and not letting myself get distracted by small things like this." He pushed Gloriosa's head back with a single jab of his finger, causing her face to scrunch up. "You've got yourself fourty-eight hours to hand over the debt, or this place is getting logged from the inside out." He watched Timber snarl and tighten up the muscles in his forehead as he balled his hands into fists. "Now, don't look at me like that. I was especially generous when Gloriosa failed to pay up the debt. I gave her more time, what more do you want from me? To do your taxes as well?"

As Gloriosa watched Filthy Rich shoot words off and interrupt Timber at every turn, she begin to let out small tinny growls. She pouted and pressed her lips together as hard as she could as magic began to warp around her tiny hands. She opened and closed them, seeing vines curl up around her and Timber. Nodding down at her new weapons, she looked up at Filthy and blew a large raspberry, jabbing her hands at him.

The vines instantly barrelled into Filthy Rich and sent him hurtling head-first into his car. The collision of nature against metal caused a massive dent in the side of it, which caused the car's alarm system to blare and attract everyone's attention. Gasps and shocked faces watched as Filthy Rich fell down onto the ground.

"Daddy!" Diamond Tiara ran over to Filthy Rich with tears beginning to fall from her eyes.

"Gloriosa!" Timber picked Gloriosa up and turned her face towards him. "What did you do?!"

Gloriosa spoke in baby talk with her hands shaking as she glared at Timber Spruce. She made fists and banged them together as she went on a long tantrum, finally ending as she turned herself back around and blew another raspberry at Filthy, thrusting her finger out at him.

"Gloriosa! We do NOT hurt people! Even if they're trying to shut down the camp!" Timber retorted with a small outburst of his own. "Are you stupid?! First the geodes, now hurting Filthy Rich, you're out of control! You're not the same sister I used to know!"

Gloriosa recoiled at Timber's cutting words, raising her hands in front of her face as he looked into the fires in her brother's eyes. Within seconds, her anger had completely disintegrated as she quivered in his grip. Her lips trembled and tears began to fall as she began to let out a small whimper. Soon enough, Gloriosa began to cry as loud as she could, turning away from her brother.

"I heard a car alarm!" Sunset Shimmer came rushing out of her tent with a small bottle in Twilight's mouth. "Is anything wro—" She saw what had happened straight away "—Mr. Rich! Oh my goddess!" She ran over to the dented car and watched as Diamond Tiara helped Filthy Rich stand up.

"Daddy! Are you alright?" Diamond pulled Filthy Rich's arm over her shoulders. "I can call an ambulance straight away!" She pulled out her phone and began punching in the number to call the hospital.

"What happened, Mr. Rich?" Sunset came over to Filthy and picked his other half up from the battered part of the car.

"Miss Shimmer..." Filthy Rich gave out a small cough as he got back up on his feet, wobbling from the impact. "I don't know what happened with Timber and that magical demon baby he's got, but I'm calling the police. This whole place is coming down!"

"Mr. Rich. Please just reconsider!" Sunset began to tend to his wounds, putting Twilight down onto the floor.

"No. No I won't." He limped around the car towards the driver's seat, opened the door, sat down, and turned the engines on. "I hope Timber's said his prayers. Because the courthouse won't be too happy to hear this." He turned towards Diamond Tiara. "Get in the car, sweetie. We're gonna go home straight away."

"Daddy, I don—"

"Diamond Tiara! Get your ass in this car or you're grounded until graduation day, missy!" Filthy Rich roared, tightening his grip on the driver's wheel.

Sighing in defeat, Diamond Tiara climbed into the car and buckled herself in tightly, closing the door as she did. "I'm sorry, Sunset. I didn't mean for this to happen..."

"Say your prayers, Camp Everfree!" Filthy shouted back as he drove off down the path and away from the campsite, leaving a cloud of smoke and dust in his wake.

Sunset's hands twitched and wobbled at what she had just witnessed. Filthy Rich had been assaulted by Gloriosa Daisy's new magical powers, and now Camp Everfree was going to be charged with a lawsuit. Her breathing became heavy as she turned towards the rest of her friends as they in turn looked towards Timber and Gloriosa.

Still crying, Gloriosa wormed her way out of Timber's grasp and curled up into a ball, causing a cocoon of vines to seal her up from the outside world. As she watched the teens all try to pick her up, she turned back towards the ground, causing sharp thorns to materialise on the outside of the web that she had made.

"Well, we're screwed..." Rainbow Dash was the first one to break the silence.

Next Chapter: A Flower in the Everfree Forest Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 43 Minutes
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